Closure operator and lock



Oct. 1, 1940. w. D. JOHNSTON CLOSURE OPERATOR ND LOCK Filed Jan. 6, 1940Fig tea Fig.5.

Hill/1am D. Jh-ns-f-on Patented Oct. 1, 1940 1 UNITED STATES rArEnr-JVOFFICE CLOSURE OPERATOR ANDsLOCK. William D. Johnston, Waco, Tex.,as'signor to Wm} Cameron & Company, Inc; Application January 6, 1940,Serial No.- 312338 10 Claims. (Cl. 292 -1 99) invention relates toclosure operators and locks, and more particularly to devices of thiskind which are especially adapted for use in connection with casementwindow sash.

5 Many casement window sash structures are provided with operatingdevices or mechanism usually mounted atthe bottom of thewindow frame andhaving an arm or other element conc nected to the bottom of the hingedsash for 0 swinging the latter to open or closed position. The moreefficient of such operating devices now available arescapable ofclosingithe bottom of the sash tightly and holding it closed, but theys. do not exert a directly applied closing or holding effort on the topof the sash. Since the sash is somewhat yieldable, such devices cannotbe depended upon to close the sash top tightly, and this is particularlyso when the sash is warped or sprung. I

The present invention relates particularly to a supplemental closureoperator and lockadapted to close completely and to lock or hold tightlythe 'portion of a sash which is otherwise not completely closed or heldtightly. An object of the invention is to provide .an improved closureoperator and lock of the character stated which is simple inconstruction and positive in its action, and which occupies a smallspace, as coms paredto the space occupied by devices hereto-- foreprovided for the same or analogous purposes. v- I i I An illustrativeembodiment of the invention is vshown in the accompanying. drawing, inwhich: 7 a 1 Figure lis an elevation showing a casement window structureequipped with a closer and lock embodying my invention as viewed fromthe inside of the window;

Figure 2 isa fragmentary vertical sectional 40 view taken on the line 22of Figure 1; showing ascreen in addition to the parts shown in Figure 1,and drawn on an enlarged scale. In this View the parts are shown in thepositions oocupied when the sash is closed at the bottom 5 but nottightly closed at the top, the parts thus being shown'in the positionsoccupied prior to the operation of the closing and locking deviceembodying the invention.

Figure 3 is a view similar to'Figure' 2 but showing the parts in thepositions occupied after the operation of the closing and lockingdevice, and with the topof the sash thus closed tightly;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a part of them; closing and lockingdeviceshowing a worm andwo-rm ;gear 'nelevation; and drawn-on' an en-'largedscale; Y a 1 v I Figure 5' is a section on-the line 5-'-5-odFigure 4; and

I y 1 Figure :6 ri-Sw a detailedv sectional View showing airame-mountedhook and supporting bracket 1 The-drawing shows a fixedframe A and movable sash B hin ed to the frame at'I --l, and aclo-senand loclr constructed in; accordance with the inventiongenerallydesignated 0. a

The framejAis constructed in a conventional manner to include sidemembers 2 and 3, a top 4, and a bottom 5. Strips 2', 3', 4', and 5secured respectively to themembers 2, 3, 4, and-'5 form a marginalabutment against whichv the sash maybe closed in a conventional mannersThe movable sash B also is of conventional form, and includessidemembers 6 and 1, a top member 8, and ;a bottom member 9.

, The frame and sash structure isprovided with any suitable} s operatingmechanism located. at the bottomof';the ,frame adjacent the hinged sideof thesash; Such mechanism is shown as including asr-otatable memberfhaving a squared socket recess H) for receiving an operating crankorlike Y member. As-

previously explained, such sash-operating, members cannot be dependedupon; to 'eifect a tight closing of. the sash at the top, andparticularly attheltopcorner diagonally oppositethe corner at which thebottom operating mechanism located.v vIn accordance with the present,invention,-;the improved supplemental. closer and lock C islocated-adjacent the cornerof the: sash diagonally opposite the cornerat which the usualsash-operating mechanism I0 is located. \Theclo'se'rand lock 0 comprises a bracket ll secured to the side member 6 of thesash, and

a hook I?" pivoted as at. l3 on the bracket to swingabout an' axisperpendicular to the plane of the frame member 2'. V'Ihe hook is of suchlengthvas to extend fromfthe sash within the frame opening. A heel H onthe hook is engageable withfthe bracket H for limiting downward swingingmovement of the hook to the position shown in Figure 2;

Mount'ed'on the frame part 6 is a gear hous ing' l5 on which is mounteda worm' gear [5 rotatable about an axle pin [1- which is parallel to thehook axis l3 when the sash is in. closed position. Integ'rally formedwith the gear; I6 is a hook [8 which is adapted to move intointerlocking' engagement with the sash-mounted hook l2'w'hen the gearIBis rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown inFigure 2, continued rotation of the gear applying force through thehooks I8 and I2 and the bracket ll directly to the sash and moving itforcibly and positively to completely closed and locked position.

For operating the Worm gear IS, a worm I9 in mesh with the gear isjournaled as at 2020 in the housing I5. The axis of the worm I9 extendssubstantially parallel to the plane of the frame member 2' on which thehousing I5 is mounted, and is formed at its inner ends with a squaredrecess 2| adapted to receive the stem or shank of an operating crankindicated in dotted lines at 22 in Figure 3.

Preferably, the gear I6 is formed at a point adjacent the hook I8 with acam 23 adapted to engage the sash member 6 when the gear I6 is rotatedin a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 3 so as topositively move the sash outwardly to release it.

The closer and lock C is so constructed that it may be adapted readilyfor use in connection with either right 'or left side hinged sash. Thedrawing shows it applied to a casement window with the sash hinged atthe right as viewed from the inside. For use with a sash hinged at theleft the pin I1 is removed from the housing I5, the'gear I6with the hookI8 thereon is turned over, and the pin I! put back in place. The worm[9, being provided with squared recesses 2| at both ends, can beoperated from inside the window regardless of whether the closer andlock C is mounted at the right or left of the Window. In operation, whenthe sash is open and it is desired to close it, the bottom operatingmechanism indicated at In is operated in the usual manner to close thesash as fully as is possible with the aid of the mechanism ID. Thisnormally will bring the bottom of the sash to snugly closedposition,but, because of the yielding of the sash or because of apermanent warp, the topof the sash still may be not completely closed.Such a position is shown in Figure 2. In order to .close the top of thesash completely, the crank 22 is inserted in the squared socket of theworm l9, and the latteris rotated so as to revolve the worm gear I6 in acounter clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. Engagement of thegear hook I8 with the. sash-mounted hook I2 andcontinued rotation of thegear will pull the sash to the tightly closed position shown in Figure3. When it is desired to open the sash, the'worm I9 and gear I6 arerotated in the opposite direction, causing the cam 23 to press outwardlyon the upper part of the sash, thus releasing it if it has any tendencyto stick. The

opening movement of the gear I6 will be suffiient to position the gearhook I8 out of the path of thesash-mounted hook I2, after which the'sashmay be moved to its fully open position by operating the mechanism In.

[The provision of the hook I8 on a rotatable gear I6 provides for asubstantial closure effecting movement without requiring long,space-consuming elements. The pivoting of the hook I2 on the sashenables the hook to have definite locking engagement with the gear hookI8 while the hook I8.moves upwardly and downwardly incidentally to itsarcuate travel. Proper cooperation of the two hooks is assured byprovision of the heel I4 which maintains the hook I2 in the path of'thegear hook I8 but spaced above and out of engagement with the gear I6..It-will benobserved that the closer and lock disclosed herein can bedriven positively in two directions so as to effect either the completeclosing of the sash or an initial release thereof to overcome sticking,and the worm and gear driving connections are such as to be self-lockingat any position of the gear I6. The parts are so arranged that themechanism can be mounted within a small space without interfering withthe mounting of an inside screen such as is designated at D in Figures 2and 3, it being necessary only to provide a small hole in the screenframe through which the operating crank'22 may be inserted. As will beclear from a consideration of Figure 4, the teeth on the worm wheel I6extend throughout only a portion of its periphery. Consequently, theWorm wheel is limited in its rotary movement by engagement of the wormthreads with the un-toothed portion of the worm wheel periphery. Thisprevents over travel of the worm wheel I6 sufficient to pull the hook I2from its mooring.

The structure disclosed for the purposes of illustration embodies theinvention in a preferred form, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made without departing from the invention as defined inthe claims.

I claim:

1. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and closure member movably mounted onthe frame, a hook mounted on the closure member; a gear journaled onsaid frame and being formed with a gear hook rotatable with said gearand engageable with said closuremounted hook upon rotation of the gearand while said gear hook has a movement component in the direction ofclosing movement of the closure for drawing said closure to closed andlocked position; and means for rotating said gear.

2. Ina closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and a closure member hinged to theframe at one side thereof, a hook mounted on the closure member; a gearhousing mounted on said frame; a gear journaled on said housing andbeing formed with a gear hook rotatable with said gear and engageablewith said closuremounted hook upon rotation of the gear and while saidgear hook has a movement component in the direction of closing movementof the closure for drawing said closure to closed position; and meansfor rotating said gear, said gear being adapted to be turned over withrespect to said housing to reverse the direction of extent of the gearhook and to thus render the closure operator adapted for selective rightor left mounting.

3. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and closure member movably mounted onthe frame, a hook mounted on the closure member; a worm gear journaledon said frame and being formed with a gear hook rotatable with said gearand engageable with said closure-mounted hook upon rotation of the gearand while said gear hook has a movement .component in the direction ofclosing movement of the closure for drawing said closure to closedposition; and a worm meshing with said gear for rotating the latter,said worm and gear providing a two-way drive which is self-locking atany position of said gear hook.

4. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and closure member movably mounted onthe frame, a hook mounted on the closure member; a worm gear journaledon said frame and being formed with a gear hook rotatable with said gearand engageable with said closure-mounted hook upon rotation of the gearand while said gear hook has a movement component in the direction ofclosing movement of the closure for drawing said closure to closedposition; and a worm meshing with said gear for rotating the latter,saidworm gear being provided with teeth only partially along its peripheryand the untoothed portion of the gear periphery at the end of thetoothed section of the gear which advances toward said worm duringclosing-movement-effecting rotation of the gear being engageable withthe worm to limit thereby the rotary movement of said gear and preventover travel thereof sufficient to pull said closuremounted hook from itsmooring on the closure.

5. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and closure member movably mounted onthe frame, a hook pivotally mounted on the closure member; a gearjournaled on said frame for rotating about an axis parallel to thepivotal axis of said hook and being formed with a gear hook rotatablewith said gear and engageable with said closure-mounted hook uponrotation of the gear and while said gear hook has a movement componentin the direction of closingmovement of the closure for drawing saidclosure to closed position; and means for rotating said gear.

6. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and closure member movably mounted onthe frame, a hook pivotally mounted on the closure member; a worm gearjournaled on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to thepivotal axis of said hook and being formed with a gear hook rotatablewith said gear and engageable with said closure-mounted hook uponrotation of the gear and while said gear hook has a movement componentin the direction of closing movement of the closure for drawing saidclosure to closed position; and a worm meshing with said gear forrotating the latter, said worm and gear providing a two-way drive whichis selflocking at any position of said gear hook.

7. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and closure member movably mounted onthe frame, a hook pivotally mounted on the closure member; and a gearjournaled on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to thepivotal axis of the hook and being formed with a gear hook rotatablewith said gear and engageable with said closure-mounted hook uponrotation of the gear and while said gear hook has a movement componentin the direction of closing movement of the closure for drawing saidclosure to closed position, said closure-mounted hook being formed witha heel adapted to limit movement of the engaging portion of theclosuremounted hook to a position in the path of said gear hook butclear of the remainder of the gear.

8. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and closure member movably mounted onthe frame, a hook mounted on the closure member; a gear journaled onsaid frame and being formed with a hook rotatable with said gear andengageable with said closuremounted hook upon rotation of the gear inone direction for drawing said closure to closed position, said gearalso being formed with a cam adjacent said hook and engageable with saidclosure for releasing it by positively forcing it toward open positionwhen said gear is rotated in the opposite direction; and means forrotating said gear.

9. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and a closure member hinged on theframe, a bracket secured to said closure member adjacent its margin; ahook pivotally mounted on said bracket to move about an axisperpendicular to the plane of the adjacent frame part and extending towithin the frame structure when the closure member is in closedposition; a gear mounted on said frame part to turn about an axisparallel to said closure-mounted hook axis, said gear having a gear hookintegrally formed on its periphery and said gear hook being directlyengageable with said closure-mounted hook upon rotation of said gear andwhile said gear hook has a movement component in the direction ofclosing movement of the closure for drawing said closure to closedposition; and means for rotating said gear.

10. In a closure operator and lock particularly for casement windows andlike structures including a frame and a closure member hinged on theframe, a bracket secured to said closure member adjacent its margin; ahook pivotally mounted on said bracket to move about an axisperpendicular to the plane of the adjacent frame part and extending towithin the frame structure when the closure member is in closedposition; a worm gear mounted on said frame part to turn about an axisparallel to said closure-mounted hook axis, said gear having a gear hookintegrally formed on its periphery andsaid gear hook being directlyengageable with said closure-mounted hook upon rotation of said gear andwhile said gear hook has a movement component in the direction ofclosing movement of the closure for drawing said closure to closedposition; and a worm meshing with said worm gear and being rotatableabout an axis parallel to the plane of said frame part, said worm beingformed to receive an operating stem member coaxial with said worm.

WILLIAM D. JOHNSTON.

